Belly-rolling machine.



E. R. ZEHNER. BELLY ROLLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 2, 1908.

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E. R. ZEHNEB.. BELLY ROLLING- MACHINE. PPLIOATION FILED DEO. 2, 1908.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

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BELLY-ROLLING MACHINE.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERNEST R. ZEHNER, a citizen of the United -States,and a resident of Toledo, inthe county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented ,a new and Improved Belly-Rolling Machine, .of which Athefollowing isa fuljl, clear, and Iexact description.

The invention is a machine for rolling the bellies of pigs `to make themeat firm and .compact and .to O'ive it a better appearance, all ofwhich is effected .by my improvements consisting in general of anendfless ,belly carrier, a meat .flattening roll cooperating with thecarrier and movable therefrom in the pressing or flattening operationwhereby to subject the belly to a uniform pressure, means for drivingthe roll, and means operatively connected with the driving means tomaintain the elements of the latter in working engagement in anyposition of the `flattening roll. The invention further contemplates amounting for the attening roll which will' admit ofthe roll movingcloser to or farther from Athe carrier at one side than at .the other,and means for varying the normal distance between the roll andV carrier.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis .specifin cation, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a belly rolling machine constructed inaccordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectionsubstantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation ofthe machine; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the inside of one of theside frames, showing the means for automatically adjusting therolldriving mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line5 of Fig. 4.

The working parts of the machine are carried on a suitable frame which,in the present embodiment of my invention, is shown to consist of side-frames 5, rigidly connected at one or more points, and havingsuperposed upright frames 6, arranged at or near the-center and alsorigidly secured together, as is best observed in Fig. 3. Near each endof the side frames 5 is journaled a cross-shaft 7, in an adjustablebearing 8, which is locked in adjusted position by op positelydirectedset-screws 9, threaded through lugs or projections integral or otherwiserigid with the frames 5. Each Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2, 1908.

Patented Nov. 15, 191.0.

Serial No. 465,653.

shaft 7 carries at the inside of the frames 5, sprocket wheels 10, over,which an endless chain carrier 11 travels, the links of the carrierbeing provided with cross-slats 12 which present a fiat surface when thechain is straightened out. The frames G each have a pair of spacedupright bars 13 on which are slidable carriers in the nature of Ts 14,receiving the trunnions of bearings 15, in which is journaled a largesmooth meat flattening or pressing roll 16. The Ts 14 are limited intheir downward movement by collars 17 adjustably secured to the bars 13,and each set of Ts is engaged by a hook 18 which is connected to acrank-arm 19 through a spring 20, the crank-arms being attached to across-shaft 21 which is provided with a lever 22 having a spring latch23 adapted to be engaged in the teeth of an arc 24 fixed to the machineframe.

In the lower portion of the side frames 5 is ournaled a main or drivingshaft. 25, having the usual `fixed and loose pulleys 26 and 27respectively, at one end, and a sprocket wheel 28 secured at itsopposite end, which drives, by means of a chain `29, a sprocket wheel 30fixed to the .extended end of one of the shafts 7 and serving `to drive,the endless tarrier. A shaft 31, journaled in the side frames 5 at oneside of the driving sha-ft 25, is provided with a sprocket wheel 32, ateach end and is driven from the driving shaft by a pinion 33 meshingwith a gear 34. The roll axle or shaft is extended to carry at each enda sprocket wheel 35 which is driven by a chain 36 passing over one ofthe sprocket wheels 32 and also passing about a sprocket wheel 37 whichis carried on a bearing or block 37a slidable in a hori- Zontal slot 38formed in the frame. The sliding blocks or bearings of the sprocketwheel 37 are maintained under a constant outward pull by weights 39,each of which has a flexible connection with its respective block by aflexible member 40, which passes over a sheave 41 arranged at the outerend of the slot 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The endless carrier is supported directly under the roll by a number ofpairs of sprocket wheels 42, three pairs being shown, each pair beingcarried on a cross-shaft 43.

In the operation of the machine, the fiattening roll is adjusted adistance above the carrier commensurate with the thickness of the bellyto be rolled, the adjustment being effected by the lever 22, The belliesare deposited on the carrier either manually or by a suitable conveyerand as they pass under the roll are fiattened being placed under auniform pressure by reason of the tilting movement of the roll on thetrunnion bearings. As the roll rides up and down on the vertical bars inits operation, the driving chains therefor are maintained und-erconstant tension by the idle sprockets connected with thecounterweights, the springs 2O inl the action of the roll serving tobreak its fall and relieve the parts of undue shock, as when rollingbellies of irregular thickness.

Having thus described my "invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a carrier, a meat flattening roll movable to andfrom the carrier and coperating therewith, and means for cushioning thefall of the roll in moving toward the carrier. v 2. 'Ihe combination ofa frame, an endless carrier carried by the frame, bearings movable toand from the carrier, a meat Hattening roll coperating with the carrierand journaled in said bearings, a shaft journaled in the frame havingcrank-arms, connections between the bearings and crank-arms, and a leverfor operating the shaft.

3. 'Ihe combination of a carrier, a roll slidable to and from thecarrier, and resilient means suspending the roll.

4. The combination of a carrier, a meat roll movable in a verticaldirection to and from the carrier, a shaft having cranlnarms, meansconnecting the crank-arms to opposite ends of the roll, and amanually-oper ated lever for operating the shaft.

5. The combination of a belly carrier, a

or ironed out, each part,

meat flattening roll movable to and from the carrier and coactingtherewith, and resilient means supporting the roll, tending to drawarranged at each side, carriers slidable on Y the guides, bearingshaving trunnions at opposite sides, mounted to rock on the carriers, aflattening roll journaled in the bearings, a shaft journaled on theframe above the flattening roll, an operating lever connected to theshaft, arms attached to the shaft, a spring suspended from each arm, anda hook carried by each spring and in supporting engagement with thecarriers of the adjacent bearing.

8. In a belly rolling machine, a meat fiattening roll suspended tofreely tilt from side to side to conform to the inequalities of themeat.

9. In a belly rolling machine, a meat flattening roll mounted to tiltfrom side to side to conform to the inequalities of the meat, andhangers suspending the roll, each hanger having a resilient member inits length.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST R. ZEHNER.

Witnesses CURTIS S. WISE, EARL SGHRODER.

